Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 76: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will provide an update on the work of the Government task force on emergency planning. [38654/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, meets on a regular basis and the most recent meeting was held yesterday, 12 December 2011. The Task Force includes representatives from all Government Departments, and Agencies who have a lead or support role in emergency planning.

While the details of matters discussed at meetings of the Task Force are confidential, I can confirm that it examines current risks and supports coordination arrangements for emergency planning across Government.

At recent meetings, presentations were made by the Department of Environment, Community & Local Government, the Health & Safety Authority, the Office of Emergency Planning and Met Éireann.

An interim review report of the flooding that occurred on 24 October 2011 was presented at yesterday's meeting.

The Government Task Force meeting held on 9 November 2011 focussed on winter preparedness. After that meeting, together with my colleagues Phil Hogan, T.D, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and Leo Varadkar T.D., Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I launched a 'Winter-Ready' information campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to provide information to the public on how to prepare for winter. The advice is being delivered via Aertel pages, booklets and the website www.winterready.ie. Also, each meeting of the Task Force has, as a standing agenda item, an assessment of the current security threat, which is provided by An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The next Government Task Force meeting will be held in February 2012.